no point here-just ramblin'

I know it has been a while, but I have a new job and I am working my butt off. Litereally. I have lost 6 ponds in 4 days and I have been on my feet for 9 hours out of 11 everyday. I am in training and I get to do all of the jobs in the restaurant from hosting, serving, cooking, managing and dishwashing-which I did today-and I'll do on Tuesday.
Dishwashing is a thankless job but a great diversion. You can just veg out and wash dishes and my favorite part is getting to a goal, a clean area. I am goal oriented. I like to see the finished product that I had a part in. I like to see my ideas flourish and I like a little recognition. I truly dislike constructive criticism. If you do not like what I am doing, tell me and give me a way to fix it. Don't beat around the bush and don't be a jerk about it. But above all, don't coddle me. I am a grown man and I can take it without holding a grudge or negative attitude. I have a really weird brain that forgives and forgets, mostly forgets and I realize that alot of what I do won't mean a hill of beans in 100 years. What will make a difference is if I am a good father to my daughters and set them up for success.
I could have done that in spades had I won that $207 million dollar Mega-millions. The winning ticket was sold about 40 miles from where I live. I didn't win so I guess I will go back to work and hopefully, lose another 10-15 pounds before New year's eve.
Although I do love my new job, I have been sitting on my netherparts for a good 2 years and I have gained 20 pounds NOT being in the restaurant business. That is almost impossible. I just like food and comfort food is my favorite. I likes me a lot of starches and grease and fried whatever. Of course I eat my vegetables and dairy---fried pickles and fried cheese---a lot of fish---fried catfish and tilapia sauteed in butter and the everpresent BBQ categories. I have tried dieting but that is not me. If I die a year or two earlier because of a pulled BBQ pork sandwich I had when I was 40, so be it. At least I won't spend that last pointless year of my life eating bland veggies and baked, dry chicken or bribing my army of caretakers to sneak me a Philly cheesesteak in with my nitro pills. I'd rather die fat & happy than skinny and miserable for the last 20 years of my life.
So in moderation I go. I am not giving up anything, but I will spring for the occasional Steak 'n Shake double steakburger with cheese, cheese fries and an extra large chocolate milkshake & smile.

Mmmmmm...Fried pickles
SF

Travel plans, Thanksgiving, restaurants

Well, we have decided to go to Memphis for Thanksgiving. I know, I know, stop the presses. But you might not understand. For one, I am missing my Father's side of the family's Thanksgiving which is this weekend. I miss that side alot. I have not seen any of them in about 2 years. I miss my other side of my family just as much. They are both different but similar. Both like to cut up and both like to eat but my Fathers side of the family likes to make plans and stick to them. Kinda like a schedule. I'm good with that, you know what you getting and when. My Mom's side is more of a seat of your pants kinda group. You never really know who will show up and when they will leave. I get a nice balance of spontaneity, goofiness, practicality and timeliness from them both. I hope I get to see everyone that is in town that 5 days.
That being said, I will be busier that a one legged waitress at the I-HOP. (sorry) I always get to town with a grand plan of getting to do exactly what I wanna do, when I wanna do it and nothing will stand in my way. Then reality sets in. I realize that the reason I am there is to reconnect with the people I love and the people that love me. No matter what. Sooooo...I decided to make a list of the things I would do after everyone was back to their work week and were sick of me mooching off of them. Deep down, well, you don't have to go too deep, I am a restaurant guy. I love the food and the atmosphere and people watching. I like checking out the customers, the staff and to see how the managers interact with guests. I also like seeing food that is on the cutting edge or eating food I haven't had since grade school. This is if I had no limits/time/money/obligation restrictions.
Here we go!
1)Run in either the Turkey Trot at Shelby farms or the Jingle Bell Run at Audubon park.
2)Go to the Enchanted Forrest with the girlies
3)Go to these restaurants that I have never been to:
a)Lolo's table
b)Gus's fried chicken
c)Sekisui-Midtown
d)Bigfoot Lodge
e)Tsunami--I worked for Chef Ben
f)McEwans on Monroe
g)Pearl's--love me some Oysters
h)Itta Bena
A long list but I have heard great things about these places.
4)Go to places I have been to:
a)The Pier-best I can do
b)Pete & Sam's=old school
c)Rendezvous-John Hiatt said it best
d)Jim's Place East
e)Owen Brennan's-Sunday Brunch
5)Go to these restaurants that I am more familiar with
a)Jarrett's-Rick and Barb are the best
b)Bosco's---MMmmm...Pizza
c)Cafe' Ole'
d)Young Ave. Deli

Of course I will not make it to all of those places. I will probably not make it to any of those places. it's nice to have dreams. Family comes first and that is the reason I go back to Memphis and if I can just spend some good time with my family on my vacation, it will be all worth it, especially since I am going for a good reason('cause I wanna) instead of a bad reason ('cause I have to).
I'll post more of what I would like to take the time to do when I get time and when I am not craving spinach and mushroom quesadillas & bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp from Cafe' Ole'
Don't forget the Pancho's cheese dip,
SF

Atomic Buffalo Turds

Yes you got it right-Atomic Buffalo Turds were made and consumed this weekend. See, here's the deal. I fancy myself a bit of a high end cook/BBQ guy. I did some catering this weekend and to add to the deliciousness of slow smoked pork shoulder, I added a tray of ATOMIC BUFFALO TURDS. I just love typing that out. Ohhh...you haven't heard of these yet. Well settle back and grab some pork rinds and a big R.C. cola and I'll learn you sumthin. Atomic Buffalo Turds are made as follows: Take some fresh jalepenos and cut in half-longways goober. Then you take yourself some softened cream cheese (hold on cowboy-it gets better) mix the cream cheese with as much cajun seasoning you can stand and slap some of that inside the hollowed out, DE-SEEDED jalepeno. Now you take a little smokie (you know-those little weiners) and slap one of those suckers in there & wrap that puppy up with some bacon and toothpick it. Put them in a pan and cook them over indirect heat for about 25-35 minutes or until bacon is done. Get ready for artery clogging heaven & to defend youselves physically from everyone except the veggie/vegan peeps at your party (why are they there anyway?)
Anyhow, the catering went well. I slow smoked 25 pounds of pork and took about 18 pounds over to an annual labor day cookout as requested and it didn't last 20 minutes. There were only 19 adults there. I took 7 pounds to my fantasy football draft. 14 guys and a whole brisket, sandwiches, chips, dips, french loaf and snacks. It lasted there about 10 minutes. So how long did the ATOMIC BUFFALO TURDS last at both places? I timed it- less than 7 minutes for 40! 40 freaking cheese and weinie stuffed jalepenos. If I could figure out how to deep fry those bad boys, I would hit every state fair east of the Mississippi & make my fortune.
Well I hope this post has been informative and entertaining. I also encourage you to hire me to make them for you along with BBQ, chicken and anything grilled. I can go high end too. You name it and I have probably made it for a large group of people. So get out there and spread the ATOMIC BUFFALO TURD goodness and don't blame me- I didn't name them, I just perfected them.
Smoke 'em slow & low
SF